Minnow bucket



March 25 1924.

G. L. FERRIS MINNOW BUCKET 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25. 1922 G12 ,..Ferrz'a,

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March 25 1924.

G. L. FERRIS MINNOW BUCKET Filed May '25,

1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR' G.L.i' 'errz'$,

, m ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

earner reins.

GEORGE LESLIE FER BIS, OF MGARTHUB, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WELLSTON METAL PRODUCTS 00., A GOBYPOBJATION OF OHIO.

MINNGW BUCKET.

Application filed May 25, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn L. Fumes, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of llIcArthur. in the county of Vinton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MinnowBuckets of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in minnow buckets.

The object of the invention is to provide a minnow bucket adapted to house minnows in an efficient manner and from which minnows may be taken without difficulty.

It is an important object of the invention that the bucket consist of but one container which is adapted to be placed inthe water and which at all times supplies the minnows therein with fresh water and air.

A further object of the invention is that the container serving as a minnow bucket may be converted to be used for other purposes, such as carrying wateror the like.

A still further object of the invention is that the bucket be provided with floats whereby the same may be placed in a stream supported by said floats.

Other objects, and objects relating to de tails of construction, combination and arrangement of parts will hereinafter appear in the detailed description to follow.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the minnow bucket constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the same.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the bucket, and

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the bucket.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bucket with bail thereof supporting false bottom in an elevated position.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, the bucket consists in a receptacle R comprising two end walls 10, the-two side walls 11 and the bottom 12. The walls and bottom may be made of sheet metal or the like and the upper edge of the receptacle is formed with a bead 13. Adjacent the upper edge of the receptacle there is positioned a Serial No. 563,560.

cover P. The cover P comprises the two sections 8 and 9, the section 8 being stationary and the section 9 removable. The outer longitudinal edge of the section 9 may rest upon the lugs 7 extending from the associated side wall of the receptacle. A pair of curved lips 16 are formed upon the top surface of the removable section 9,. a lip occurring adjacent each end of the section and slightly spaced from the inner longitudinal edge thereof. The inner edge of the section 9 may be slipped beneath the abutting edge of the stationary section 8, while the lips 6 engage upon the top of the section 8 in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 and thus support the inner edge of the section 9 against upward or downward movement and also against inward movement.

The abutting longitudinal edges of the cover sections 8 and 9 are recessed to form an opening 14:. A cover or lid is provided for the opening 14 consisting of a frame F, said frame having secured therein a section of fine mesh screen wire S. 'The frame is adapted to seat upon the marginal edge of the opening 14 as illustrated in Figure 4 and one longitudinal member of theframe is provided with a depending skirt 15, and the two end members of said frame are each provided with a skirt section 16 which is preferably integral with the skirt 15. When the frame is positioned so that its screen S forms a cover for the opening in the receptacle the skirt sections 15 and' 16 are adapted to extend within the receptacle and thus hold the frame against end movement and side movement in one direction in an obvious manner. The cover section 8 is provided adjacent each end with a tang or extension 16 adapted to rest upon the section 9 and thereby further support section 8.

On the bottom of the frame there is secureda strip 18 which extends transversely of the frame and curves transversely of the frame as shown. The strip projects from one side of the frame as best illustrated in Figure 3. I Upon the side wall 11 associated with the extension of the strip 18 there is secured a spring finger 19, said finger being rectangular inshape and having its lower end riveted to the wall of the receptacle as at 20, while its upper end is formed with a curved portion 21 adapted to receive the bead 13 of the receptacle and permit the spring finger to fit against the associated side wall of the ward movement.

receptacle, The ti -shaped clip 22 is also secured tothe side wall of the receptacle and adapted to hold the spring finger 19 against turning movement.

Adjacent the upper end of the spring linger 19 there is formed a pin 23 which extends through an opening 24 in the associated side wall of the receptacle and which is adapted to engage the associated end of the strip 18 for holding the frame F against up- Upon the free end of the spring finger 19 being drawn outwardly the end of the strip 18 may freely pass the pin 23 of said spring finger. It will also be observed that the free end of the pin 23 is bevelled as at 25, and with this construction should the strip 18 be disposed above the pin 25, the same will easily slide over the pin and thereby automatically lock the frame F against upward movement. The pin 23 also serves to limit the upward movement of the outer longitudinal edge of the removable cover section 9. The extended end of the strip 18 may terminate in an upwardly curved portion 24 which may engage with a notch 23 formed in the pin 23 and thereby further insuring against unintentional upward movement of the frame F.

A substantially U-shaped frame member F is provided, the leg portions 27 in each instance extending downwardly through recesses 28 provided in the cover section 8. To the lower end of each leg portion 27 of the frame F there is secured a plate 29 which extends at right an s to the associated leg portion and between the plates 29 there is supported a screen section 30, said screen section being adapted to form a cover for the bottom of the receptacle R and also has its longitudinal edges formed with an upturned portion 31.

The bridge portion of the frame member F is formed with a handle H and also this bridge portion is secured to the frame F so that upon lifting the frame F the frame F is raised therewith.

To each end wall 10 of the receptacle B there is secured in any preferable manner a casing C, said casing being in the form of a spout with its top closed by the section 32, and said casings being adapted to serve as floats for supporting the receptacle R against sinking when placed in water. To the casing C there are secured the leg portions 33 of the bail B, said leg portions of the bail being pivotally connected to the casing, in each instance, by a strap 34. Also to the section 32 of one of the casings G there is secured a hitch ring by means of a strap 36.

The receptacle R is further provided with a plurality of openings 87, one preferably occurring at each corner of the receptacle as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Any number of these openings may be provided and the water through the openings 37 in the walls" of the receptacle Water may circulate through the openings 37 and thus at all times supply the minnows with a fresh supply of water.

When it is desired to remove the minnows from the bucket the free end of the spring 19 is moved outwardlyto permit the raising of the frame F. The handle H is grasped and the frame F together with the screen 30 are simultaneously raised. The minnows will of course be lifted by the screen 30 and may be brought within convenient reach through the opening 14 in the plate cover R of the receptacle. After the number of minnows desired has been obtained then the handle H may be released and the frame F together with the screen 30 will drop to their initial position and in doing so the extensionof the strip 18 will strike the pin 23 and push the spring finger 19 outwardly suiiicient to permit the passage of this strip and thus to automatically lock the frame F and screen 30 in their original positions.

It also should be pointed out that with the frame lifted to remove minnows the bail B may be placed so that it rests against the legs of the frame and then will engage be neath the frame F and thus support the minnows in an elevated position and within convenient reach.

It should be here pointed out that byproriding the floats or casings C for the bucket, that when said bucket is placed in a stream it can be observed at a distance and thus avoid any difliculty in locating the bucket. Also these float-s are so shaped and adjusted that they make the bucket ride rigidly and sufliciently submerge to permit water to circulate through the openings 37 Furthermore by employing these floats the minnows may be taken from the bucket without re moving the same from water.

Should it be desired to clean the bucket then the removable coversection 9 may be lifted'out and also the frame F together with the parts used "thereto may be taken from the receptacle B. As is obvious the interior of the bucket may now be easily scoured and the bucket may be. employed for carrying water or other purposes. 7

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I am aware of the fact, that the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be changed by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

hat I claim is l. A minnow bucket comprising a receptacle, a cover therefor with a central opening, a closure for said opening consisting of a frame and a reticulated closure for said frame, an extension from said frame, a spring finger secured to the wall of said receptacle associated with said extension and having a projection adapted to engage said extension of the frame for holding the same against upward movement.

2. A minnow bucket comprising a receptacle, a cover therefor having a central opening, a closure for said central opening comprising a frame with a reticulated closure supported therein, an extension from said frame, a. spring finger having its one end secured to the wall of the receptacle asso ciated with the extension from the frame, a projection formed upon the free end of said spring finger adapted to engage the extension from the frame and hold the frame against upward movement. and said projection having an inclined free end adapted to facilitate the passing of the extension from the frame thereover.

3. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle, a cover therefor having a central opening, a closure for said opening consisting of a frame with a screen wire closure therefor, a skirt depending from one longitudinal member of the frame and adapted to project within the receptacle to hold the frame against side movement in one direction, a skirt depending from each end portion of the frame and adapted to extend within the receptacle and hold the frame against end movement in either direction, an extension from the other longitudinal portion of the frame, a spring finger carried by the associated wall of the receptacle, the said spring finger having a projection adapted to engage the extension from the frame and hold the same against upward movement.

4. A minnow bucket, comprising a receptacle, a cover therefor consisting of a removable section and a stationary section, said sections being provided with recesses to form an enlarged central opening, and a reticulated cover for said opening.

5. In a minnow bucket, a cover for said bucket having an opening, a cover for said opening including a frame having a reticulated closure, standards extending downwardlv from said frame adapted to prevent end movement in either direction or side movement in one direction, and an extension from said frame adapted to be utilized for holding the frame against side movement in the opposite direction.

6. A minnow bucket comprising a receptacle, a false bottom in said receptacle, a frame extending upwardly from said bottom whereby the bottom may be lifted to an elevated position in the receptacle, and a bail upon the receptacle adapted to be swung to engage the frame and support the false bottom in its last-named position.

7 A minnow bucket comprising a receptacle, a false bottom in said receptacle, rods extending upwardly from the false bottom, a cross member between the upper ends of the rods, and a bail for said receptacle adapted to be swung to rest against said rods and engage beneath the cross member and support the false bottom in an elevated position.

GEORGE LESLIE FERRIS. 

